2016/17

Indoor Season

U10-U18

Coaching Staff

Manual

Email:

Phone: 780-468-5233 ext.2

Fax: 780-461-1745

#84,4003 – 98 Street Edmonton AB T6E6M8

Table of Contents / 2
President’s Welcome / 3
MWSA Board Members / 4
Coaches Check List / 5
Equipment / 6-8
Helpful Hints for a Successful Parents Meeting / 8-11
Start Date, Refunds, Withdrawals, Pictures,
& Additional Costs / 12
Jersey Deposit Cheques & Soccer Centre Locations / 13
Games and Gyms / 14
Urgent Indoor Ball Request & Referee Liaison
Respect your Referees / 15
Uniforms & Equipment Exchange Program / 16
Head Coverings, Eye Glasses, Casts & BracesJewelry / 17
Security Clearances, Adult/Minor Waivers,
Dressing room & Bench Requirements / 18
Player & Coaches Cards / 19
Selects & Trialists / 20
Keeper & Technical Training, ASA Courses / 21
Discipline &, Rules of the Game
& Guidelines of Fundraising & Sponsorship / 22
Players, Parent & Coaches Code of Conduct / 23
U10 Wrap Up, Inter Cities, & Provincials Dates / 24
Keep us up to date, did we miss something?
& Website / 25
Important Dates / 26
Thanks to our Sponsors and Volunteers / 27
Team Jersey Record / 28

Welcome!

On behalf of the Mill Woods Soccer Association (MWSA) Board, I would like to welcome you to the 2016/17 Indoor soccer season.

MWSA exists to promote, develop and govern the soccer program in the communities that make up the MW zone (Burnewood, Ellerslie, Fulton Meadows, Knottwood, Lakewood, Leefield, The Meadows, Millhurst, North Millbourne, Ridgewood, Southwood, Summerside, Woodvale, and Beaumont). We strive to provide for all children and youth in the Mill Woods Zone the opportunity to enjoy the “beautiful game.” We endeavour to develop all our players, regardless of initial skill, to their full potential as soccer players, encouraging the values of good sportsmanship and of course having fun.

MWSA is a community volunteer driven organization. This means with very few exceptions, our program is organized and run by dedicated volunteers from the communities of the Mill Woods Zone. We appreciate all our volunteers from Coaches and Managers working directly with the team to the Board Members working to improve the program and the many other volunteers helping with tournaments, equipment, evaluations, registration and much more. All these people contribute well over 300, 000 volunteer hours each year to ensure our youth have the opportunity to play soccer. Please show them respect and gratitude, for without these volunteers, we would not be able to offer this program. Also, if you are not already involved, please consider volunteering some of your time to make your and all our children’s soccer experience a great one.

We welcome your comments, concerns or suggestions at any time, sooner rather than later. Feel free to relate those to your coach, community league representative or the MWSA office () or call 780-468-5233. For more information, I invite you to visit our website at

I hope you have a fantastic season!!

Vern Lemoignan
MWSA – President

Your Community Rep’s job is to be your first point of contact. The Community Chair will be

your second point of contact. They can help you deal with problems or concerns that arise throughout the season. They are also people you must contact in the event of a protest or appeal. This position was created to assist you – the soccer coach. Listed below are their emails.

MWSA Board Members & Support System

Position / Name / Email Addresses
President / Vern Lemoignan /
1st Vice President / Nav Dhaliwal /
2nd Vice President / John Stewart /
Treasurer / Ajesh Chadha /
Registrar & Executive Director / Angie Sych /
Office / Tania Elliott /
Equipment Director / Cindy Breadner /
Referee Assignor / Ricardo Lodhar /
Selects FC Director / Diana Clark /
Selects FC Technical Director / Dennis Pajo /
Community Technical Director / Jorge Rojas /
Tournament Chairperson / Tania Elliott /
Volunteer Chairperson / Tameka Thomas /
Gaming Chairperson / Patti Little /
Community Chairperson / Candace Sargeant /
Burnewood Rep – U8B Age Rep / Roger Pelletier /
Ellerslie Rep – U6 Age Rep / Lindsy Leduc /
Fulton Meadows Rep (Acting) – U10G Age Rep / Steven Neal /
Knottwood Rep – U10B Age Rep / Cindy Breadner /
Lakewood Rep (Acting) U8G Age Rep / Heather McLeod /
Leefield Rep (Acting) – U12B Age Rep / Ryan Orr /
Meadows Rep – U8 Junior Selects Age Rep / Nav Dhaliwal
Nav Dhaliwal & Will McNeil /

Millhurst Rep – U16B & U18B Age Rep / Jorge Rojas /
North Millbourne Rep / Will McNeil /
Ridgewood Rep. / Candace Sargeant /
Southwood Rep – U16 & U18G Age Rep / Doris Ouelett /
Summerside Rep – U6 Age Rep / Melissa Ristau /
Woodvale Rep – U12G Age Rep / Tanya Jaques /
MM Age Rep / Sarena Monaghan /
U14 Age Rep / Stephen Andrews /

Consider joining the MWSA Board!

1.Pick up your Equipment on the following date & time found on page 7 at the storage facility (99 St71 Ave).Park in the Russel Metals parking lot and go to the green door beside the mural.

2.Please read this entire handout

  1. Call your players to introduce myself by no later than Sunday, October 2, 2016
  1. Set up a meeting with your players and their parents prior to the start of the season. Review rules and expectations, etc. (See enclosed list of helpful hints to help you with this)
  1. If you do not already have an Assistant Coach and a Team Manager, ask your parents for help. You cannot do it by yourself!
  1. Make sure all players needing player cards (U16-U18) do so on the selected EMSA dates (see attached)
  1. Schedule`s will be available online Wednesday October 12, 2016 after 5:00 PM for U6 – U18 Community and all City Wide and Premier Teams at
  1. Collect $200.00 Jersey deposit chequesfrom each player BEFORE handing out the jerseys. There is a jersey record sheet enclosed in this booklet to help organize the cheques.
  1. If your team wishes to have team pictures, have your Team Manager arrange it. Information is included in this package.

If you have any questions please contact yourCommunity League Representative or Age Rep

Have a Great Season!!!

Equipment – U10 to U18

Each coach is required to submit a $200.00 equipment deposit cheque to the Equipment Director when he/she receives the equipment. Equipment will NOT be handed out unless a deposit cheque has been received for the team’s equipment. Please date your equipment deposit cheque for March 1st, 2017. Equipment deposit cheques will not be cashed, and will be returned or shredded once the Equipment Director receives the equipment. If you or someone from the team is unable to pick up your equipment during the dates and times chosen, please contact your age rep to make alternate arrangements.

As a Coach, you are responsible to:

  1. Collect a $200.00 jersey deposit cheque from your player on your team before issuing a set of jerseys to them. On the back of each cheque please write age group, gender, coaches name, jersey #, player’s name, contact #, and email address. Please have the player’s jersey deposit cheques dated March 01, 2016 and made out to “Mill Woods Soccer Association”. MWSA does notaccept cash or credit card numbers as a deposit on the jersey.
  1. Complete a “MWSA Team Jersey Record” which lists each player on your team, their assigned jersey # and deposit cheque #. Please see the attached form at the back of this manual which is also available on the MWSA website under the Coaches Corner. Both the completed Team Jersey Record form and players jersey deposit cheques need to be submitted to the MWSA office by Oct 31, 2016. As well please send a soft copy of the completed team jersey record form to .
  1. Collect and return the players’ jerseys to the Equipment warehouse on one of the Equipment return dates. The teams’ jerseys MUST be laundered, clean, and in good shape upon return of the teams’ equipment to the Equipment warehouse.Please note any returned unclean teams’ jerseys will be subject to a $50 laundry service charge and any jerseys not returned in good shape are subject to the players jersey deposit cheque being cashed.
  1. Coaches are responsible for the care of any unissued/extra jersey sets they may have.
  1. Please remind parents and players:
  1. they are not purchasing the jerseys, rather they have the use of them for the season and it is the parents/players responsibility to return both jerseys to you as the coach at the end of the season/or if they leave before the end of the season.
  2. that their jersey deposit cheque will be returned/shredded upon confirmation that the both jerseys are laundered, clean and are in a good shape as in not molded, torn, stained, dyed, melted, etc.)
  3. if a player quits/or moves from the team before the end of the season, or prior to going on vacation before the season is over that they must return the jerseys to the Coach.
  4. when jerseys are soiled/dirty please remind them to launder them right away, thus reducing chances of staining and molding
  5. for any players jerseys that you as a coach have not received from your players, upon return of the team’s equipment you must provide a the player’s first and last name and their assigned jersey number.
  1. Equipment Handout

For the U10-U18 teams equipment handout will take placeSaturday October 1st. The schedule is as follows:

U10 & U12 - 11:00 AM to12:00 PM

U14 – U18 -9:15 AM to 10:45 AM

Pick up your equipment at the MWSA Equipment warehouse located on the west side of 99 St between 71 Avenue and 72 Avenue. The Equipment warehouse is marked by a beautiful painting/mural Joey Moss on the wall facing 99 Street. All equipment handouts and returns will take place here.

If you would like extra outdoor balls please advise our Equipment Director when you pick up your indoor equipment. Please be aware the outdoor balls are not for use in the gym but can be used outdoors or in the soccer centers.

  1. Equipment Return

For U10-U18, team equipment MUST be returned to the MWSA Equipment warehouse on one of the followingEquipment return dates:

February 20th, 2016, Saturday, from 10AM to 4 PM

March 8th, 2016, Tuesday, from 6 PM to 9 PM

***** PLEASE NOTE: All team equipment including jerseys MUST be returned, by March 8th, 2016, therefore if you cannot make one of the above dates please make alternate arrangements with your coaching staff or a parent on the team to return your team equipment. For any unreturned team equipment after March 8, 2016the coaches equipment deposit cheque will be cashed *****

Please direct any equipment questions or concerns to the MWSA Equipment Director,
by email or call 780 297-2800.

Our equipment storage facility is located by the Joey Moss Mural (between 71st and 72ndAvenue & 99 Street), next to Russel Metals. All equipment handouts and returns will take place here.

Here are some suggestions to help MWSA re-establish its excellent return rate!

Please retain the Keeper jerseys with the equipment as a designated goalkeeper will occasionally show up at a game without the jersey or will be unable to attend.

Older soccer balls sometimes leak air. To re-inflate soccer balls, use a moist valve needle and re-inflate to the appropriate pressure, , (8 to 10 lbs for size 3, 4 and 5 balls).

Valve needles are not provided with your equipment.

Return all of your equipment, including flat balls, on the scheduled equipment return dates. If you are unable to attend our equipment return dates, please have a trusted member of your team return the equipment on time. Jerseys MUST be washed and folded before they are returned at the end of the season!!

A good turn out on scheduled dates means less work for everyone involved.

Helpful Hints for a Successful Parents Meeting

When you first attend the MWSA Coaches meeting and receive your team list you should CALL each parent within the next few days and introduce yourself. You can also let them know that the Indoor Season begins on the weekend of October 15th, 2016. Please remember to give them YOUR telephone number.

Ask them to bring a $200.00 deposit cheque for the jerseys (U10-U18 only). Their child CANNOT have their jersey until YOU receive the deposit cheque. The cheque should be post-dated to March 01, 2017 and made payable to MWSA. The next important step (after picking up your equipment) is to hold a parents’ meeting (and that is when they should bring you the jersey deposit cheque) Please use jersey record sheet at the back of this booklet.

Every MWSA Soccer Coach should hold a meeting with all the parents on the team as soon as possible after receiving his/her team. You may book time at your local community league or the food court at your local mall. However, one of the easiest ways to do this is to hold the parents meeting during the very first ‘get-together’. Introduce yourself to your new players and then throw them a soccer ball and let them play while you meet with the parents.

Here are some suggested points to be covered:

  • Introduce yourself. Tell them about your coaching experience and a little about your life – job, family, etc. Talk to them about the MWSA philosophy of playing each child equally regardless of their skill level. Let them know that the MWSA has made every effort to form these teams of players of relatively equal skill and ability.
  • Confirm phone numbers and email addresses from your registration forms. Email is the easiest way to contact the team members, so you’ll want to make sure your contact information is correct. Confirm that parent phone list can be distributed.
  • Advise the parents that it is the belief of Mill Woods Soccer and your own that school and homework come before soccer! If a child gets home from school at 3:30 PM, they should make every effort to get their homework done BEFORE a 6:00 p.m. game/practice. If they wait until after the game/practice (7:00 PM or later), they will simply be too tired. Seek the parents support on this issue! And tell the parents that you WILL send this message to the children often.
  • Let them know that you need at least 1 possibly 2 Assistant Coaches and one Team Manager. Explain to them that you simply cannot do the job alone. It is a “team” that includes the parents! Assure them that the assistant coaches need not know a lot about the game of soccer, although that would certainly be a bonus. The assistant coaches help to make sure that each child plays equally. Assistant coaches would also assist with the warm-up prior to games. They may also help supervise the players when they prepare to play.
  • The Team Manager would be in charge of arranging photos, gathering funds for tournaments, yearend parties, etc. The Team Manager would also be the ‘go-between’ in the event that someone had trouble speaking with a coach. The Team Manager may also ensure that the coach or team officials have signed the game sheets (U10-U18). The Team Manager can also keep track of the jersey deposit cheques – who has provided one and who hasn’t.
  • Explain the MWSA policy of playing each child equally. This does not mean that you will have a stop watch and time this to the second. But every effort should be made to play the children equally, and that while winning is important, it is not the primary goal. Advise the parents that your goal as a coach is to have the players improve their soccer skills while having fun. The ONLY exceptions to this are injury/sickness and discipline issues.
  • Discipline issues may include being disrespectful to team mates, other players, coaches, parents or referees. When a child is disciplined, his/her parents should be informed of this. All discipline should be progressive and should be in proportion to the “wrong” that was done. (I.e. if a child was disrespectful to a referee, the coach may decide to bench him for a shift. If the player does it a second time, the benching may be for a couple of shifts. And so on.) Each time this occurs the coach MUST explain to the child the reason for the punishment and that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.
  • Tell the parents that they will need to bring their children to the games at least ½ hour BEFORE game time. This is necessary so that the players warm up properly and receive instructions. It will also give the coach time to properly prepare the game sheet.
  • Parents should attend ALL of their children’s games and practices! The coach is NOT a baby-sitter. Your child will know if mom brings them to the game 5 minutes before it starts and then races back 5 minutes after it is over. These young people have a relatively short playing career. Be there for THEM! Of course there are some occasions where a parent has no choice but to leave (other children in soccer, etc.). If a parent MUST leave for a while, they MUST inform the coach and manager that they have to leave and they MUST inform the coach and manager when they will return.
  • Provide the parents with a list of parents/players names, addresses and phone numbers. Make sure that no one has any objections to this. If they need someone to give their child a ride, they should phone someone that lives close to them. They should NOT always call you! They should also not always rely on the same person for a “ride”. Encourage them to ask other people that live close to them.
  • Due to infectious diseases like spinal meningitis, the flu and even colds, advise the parents that players should have their OWN water bottle (an empty “Power Aid” bottle will suffice). Each water bottle should be clearly marked with the player’s name!
  • There are NO snacks allowed in any gyms or in the soccer centers.
  • Advise the U10-U18 parents about the Mill Woods SoccerMidnight Madness Tournament, held on the Thanksgiving long weekendOctober 7-9, 2016. There will be NO Games on Monday. Encourage attendance and make sure you note who will not be able to make it.
  • Collect the jersey deposit cheques from the parents(only applicable to U10 and older). Their child CANNOT be issued a jersey until they have provided you with a post-dated (March 01 2015) deposit cheque payable to MWSA. Explain to them that Mill Woods Soccer does NOT want their money. We want the jerseys back!
  • Explain to the parents that Mill Woods Soccer conducts security checks on all of its head coaches. Mill Woods Soccer is doing everything it can to screen out any sex offenders or child abusers.
  • Ask the parents to ensure that their child does not bring or wear jewelry of any kind to the games. Earrings, necklaces, etc. should be left at home or with the parent.
  • Ask the parents to be positive role models. They should cheer, not jeer. They should NEVER yell at Referees or other players. The parents need to be reminded that Referees DO make mistakes (after all, many of them are barely older than the players themselves!) Tell them that YOU are responsible for not only the players on the team, but also the parents. Tell them that if they cannot behave themselves on the sidelines, you may have to ask them to leave – in order to cool down. Tell them that Mill Woods Soccer WILL support you on this issue!
  • Advise the parents that if a player gets hurt during a game, they should NOT immediately scream at a Referee if he/she does NOT immediately blow the whistle. The Referee is not supposed to do this! Often such incidentsinvolve a minor injury (two players jostle for the ball and one player goes down). The Referee is supposed to allow the play to continue – especially if the ball is played to a team mate of the injured player. The Referee may call, “Advantage – Play on!” If the Referee were to blow the whistle immediately, the advantage would be lost. Having said this, if there was a foul, the referee should blow the whistle immediately -not because of the injury, but because of the foul. Remember, it is the Referee’s discretion as to whether a foul occurred, NOT the parents or coaches. If the injury is clearly and obviously serious in nature (and the vast majority are NOT) the Referee can and should blow the whistle and stop play.
  • In the case where the injury is NOT serious, but the player is down and “hurting”, proper soccer etiquette is for the opposing team to kick the ball out of play at the next earliest opportunity. A “restart” then occurs by the team with the injured player. In keeping with the etiquette, the player making the throw-in then throws the ball to the opposing team. It is important for all coaches and player to know this so they DON’T scream at a Referee who is only doing what he/she is supposed to do!
  • Advise the parents that you will need one of them to act as a “Bench Parent” or “Referee Liaison” for each game. It doesn’t have to be the same parent for each game. Make sure that both parents know what their responsibilities are before EACH game! ALL teams must have at least one adult who is the same gender as the players. For example, if the coach, Assistant Coach and Manager of a GIRLS team are all male, then they must include a fourth person – one of the parents, to have as a “Bench mom” who would be present on the bench at all games. The same, in reverse, applies to the BOYS team that requires a “Bench Dad”.